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Watch a time-lapse as N.C. State running back Nyheim Hines makes an 83-yard touchdown run during the Wolfpack's victory over the Pitt Panthers at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. Ethan Hymanehyman@newsobserver.com

Watch a time-lapse as N.C. State running back Nyheim Hines makes an 83-yard touchdown run during the Wolfpack's victory over the Pitt Panthers at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. Ethan Hymanehyman@newsobserver.com

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After four years of predictable results between the “haves” and the “have-nots” in the Atlantic Division, it’s hard not to have the same “wait, what?” reaction as Fisher.

Syracuse, a 24-point underdog, stunned Clemson on Friday, and Boston College, a 19-point underdog, knocked off Louisville on Saturday. Upside down and downside up might be par for the course in the Coastal Division but not on the Atlantic side.

For four years, from the start of 2013 season through the 2016 season, the only division losses by FSU and Clemson were to each other.

After Louisville replaced Maryland in the division before the 2014 season, those top three teams compiled a 36-0 record against the bottom four teams (Boston College, N.C. State, Syracuse and Wake Forest) in the Atlantic Division in the ’14, ’15 and ’16 seasons.

It wasn’t until N.C State’s win at FSU on Sept. 23 when the tide began to turn. The Wolfpack has since added a win over Louisville. Now those bottom four teams in the division have a 4-3 mark against what were the top three teams.

The Wolfpack, at 4-0 in the ACC, holds the division lead by itself. The last time a team from this group was on top this late in the season was in 2012, when Maryland was 2-0. The Terps, who jumped to the Big Ten two years later, had yet to play Clemson or FSU by that point. They ended up losing to both, and the rest of their conference games.

Technically, N.C. State has never been in this position, alone in first, this late in the season. At 5-2 in the ACC in 2010, N.C. State would have won the division title with a win at Maryland in the regular-season finale, but FSU had already completed its conference schedule at 6-2.

What gives with the division upheaval? Dave Doeren has been building toward this season, his fifth at N.C. State, since the day he was hired. The Wolfpack uprising was somewhat predictable.

Syracuse has been feisty under second-year coach Dino Babers. The Orange also knocked off Coastal champ Virginia Tech at home last year. The Orange have the right quarterback in a system that’s just a little bit different from what the rest of the ACC is used to.

Syracuse’s problem is the schedule is relentless. This week, Babers’ crew gets No. 8 Miami. They’ve already faced three ranked teams in the past four weeks.